Society Gossip

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue VIII, 23 August 1902, Page 492

Society Gossip

AUCKLAND. Deal- Bee, August 19. We have had a very festive week of it since my last letter, and the weather has, moreover, been perfect, so life has seemed very much worth living. First, I must tell you of MRS MeCOSH CLARK’S BRILLIANTLY SUCCESSFUL BALL, at “Te Kowhai,” Remuera, the scene of so many splendid social gatherings. The function was one of the most successful of entertainments held in Remuera for some time past. One had not imagined it possible that any dance could be smarter than the prior Remuera'balls of this year; but on all hands it was admitted that in many ways this dance surpassed them all. Mrs McCosh Clark, ably assisted by 'her two sons and two daughters, received her guests at the entrance to the ballroom, all being most indefatigable in their efforts to promote the pleasure of their guests. An enjoyable evening is always fait accompli when Mrs McCosh Clark is hostess, for she is an ideal one, and has been famous for the success of her entertainments in the past years. The floor was simply perfect; one could have daneed for ever without any feeling of fatigue; and the music was all that could be desired, the orchestra of four musicians playing the most popular and well-known airs. The ball was crowded, but not unduly so —just sufficient, in fact, to make the affair go with that vim which is

necessary for the success of a danee. The ball was also remarkable for its strong contingent of pretty girls. The large entrance hall, and a small anteroom, off the ballroom, as well as a

room upstairs, set apart for the pingpong players, were charming retreats for the non-dancers, while the verandah and the large balcony were used during the intervals of the dances. The view from the baleony caused many of the guests to go into ecstaeies. It was a lovely calm, moonlight night, not a breath of wind stirred the trees to a murmur of complaint, there lay the beautiful Waitemata Harbour stretched out before, nearer the Hauraki lagoon, while the silence of the honr lay upon the surrounding hills and trees, and heaven, earth and sea were filled with the glorious light of the moon. It would have been difficult to have found a

more picturesque or more peaceful

scene. Lighter refreshments were served in an ante-room off the entrance hall, and the servants moved around with silent tread and deft hands. The supper was served in the diningroom. The table was tast.efully nnd simply decorated with vases of deli-cate-coloured and subtly Wended tints of anemones, while the shaded lights filled the room with n subdued light. Small tables were arranged with chairs a deux at the corners of the room so that supper could be taken with ease. Of the supper itself, it will lie sufficient to say that it was of the most elaborate and perfect description. NOW FOR SOME OF L'HE DRESSES. Mrs McCosh Clark, very handsome blaek satin with overdress of black Brussels net, finished with bands of black satin, and diamond ornaments; she carried a red shower bouquet; Miss McCosh Clark, blaek chenille net with bebe ribbon bands over a blaek voile, white flowers in eoiffure; her sister wore a white mousseline de soie, finished with bands of white bebe ribbon; Mrs E. W. Pay ton, black voile with overdress of lace; Mrs Thomas Cotter, black brocaded silk with overdress of chenille embroidered Brussels, steel garnitures, velvetbows, the skirt and decolletage had deep bands of white silk let in. veiled in Spanish lace; Miss Hesketh, white satin, with cloth of gold roses on shoulder; Miss Boult looked very sweet in a white silk, with lace insertions, tuckings and lace drapings, relieved with pink flowers on corsage and in coiffure; Miss Jackson, pink satin, with scarlet flowers; and her sister wore a white satin, with lace and white flowers; Miss Goodwin, black glace, with overdress of chiffon; Miss Woodward, black silk, with lace, relieved with scarlet flowers; Miss Firth, pale pink satin; Miss Brodie, crushed strawberry costume; Miss Peacocke, white silk, with, blue beads round neck; Mrs Aitken Carrick, black grenadine over black voile; Mrs. E. W. Payton, black silk, with lace overdress, sleeves of transparent lace; Mrs. Maitland, black gown, heliotrope sash hung from shoulder in large bow, ending in streamers; Mrs. Roberton, white silk, with chiffon; Miss Pierce, azure blue silk, with drapings of white lace; Miss Brown, white silk, with blue choux; Miss Myers, white silk, with chiffon and flowers; Mrs. George Bloomfield, black glace, with overdress oi net; Miss Thompson, white silk, with chiffon and flowers, wreath of white flowers in coiffure; and her sister wore a salmon pink silk, with mauve flowers on corsage; Miss Horton, white silk, with chiffon, pink roses on shoulder and in coiffure; Miss Heather, white silk, elaborately embroidered, and relieved with lace and white flowers; Miss Myers, white silk, with lace and flowers; Mrs. Thomas Morrin, very elegant ivory, chiffon, over white silk, and elaborately trimmed with applique of black embroidery; Miss Mowbray, white gauze over white satin, and relieved with touches of black velvet; Mrs. A. 11. Nathan, black silk, with bertha of ecru lace; Miss Salmon, white silk, with overdress of white net, with frou-frou chiffon frills on skirt and decolletage, gold-braided zouave; Miss Cruickshank, blue satin, the skirt was finished at the hem. with chiffon ruchings, the bodice was cut away at the side, disclosing a chemisette of lace, which also formed the decolletage, and went in straps over the shoulders; Miss Denniston looked very pretty in a white silk, very much beflowered; Misses Gorrie (2) were studies in white silks, with flounces and tuckings; Miss (Sam) Hesketh, white silk, with chiffon choux; Miss Hull wore a lemon-col-oured silk, with infinitesimal frills at hem of skirt to knee, the decolletage and coiffure was decorated w’ith gloire de Dijon roses and their foliage; Mrs. L. D. Nathan, very rich black English costume, the decolletagc was draped with costly lace, and finished with canary silk on corsage and round waist; Miss Muriel Dargaville, white silk, the dccolletage was encrusted with lace and white flowers; Miss Buckland, white silk,

with drapings of tulle; Miss Ruth Buckland looked sweet in a white silk draped with tulle, and relieved with white sprays; Miss Blanche Banks (Waikato), mauve brocade, finished with white lace; Mrs. Archie Clark, white satin, with overdress of black spotted net, with rows and rows of black bands from hem to knee of skirt, the bodice was finished with roses and loops of black velvet ribbon; Mrs. Foster, white silk, veiled in mousseline de soie; Mrs. Hanna, rich white silk, with ecru lace trimming, pink flowers in coiffure; Miss Isaacs, white satin, trimmed with white lace and pink flowers on corsage; Mrs. R. A. Carr, blue silk, finished with white lace at neck; Miss Carr, white silk, with bead passementerie; Miss Lennox, black grenadine, the decolletage was outlined with pearl passementerie; and her sister wore white silk, with pink flowers in coiffure and on corsage; Mrs. Black, black silk, with blue flowers on corsage and iu coiffure; Miss Ruddock, black lace gown, with red flowers; Miss Kissling, black lace gown, with green chou in coiffure; Miss Mackellar Kissling, black brocaded silk; Miss Stevenson, yellow satin, with blue lace insertion; and her sister wore a pale pink satin; Miss Hull, buttercup silk, with daffodils and black bebe ribbons; Miss Rooke wore a very handsome and striking costume of dome blue silk, finished with black velvet, the skirt was finished with small flounces of the same silk, veiled in black lace; Mrs Gillies, Black voile, with overdress of black net and satin bands; Miss' Gillies, pink satin, -with white luce and flowers; Miss Moss Davis, white silk, the skirt was pleated at the hips, and fell into folds at the hem, blue ribbon waist-band that ended in streamers at the back, blue chou in coiffure; Mrs —. Stevenson (Ponsonby), black la-ee gown over black voile; her daughter, black lace costume, the decolletage was finished with bands of forget-me-not blue ribbon and spray of forget-me-nots, the same in coiffure; Miss Ching, black lace gown; Miss Nelson, black satin, with chou of blue on corsage and in coiffure; and her sister wore pale pink Liberty silk, the skirt was flounced and finished with black bebe ribbon; Miss Peacock (Ponsonby) wore an exquisite robe of pale pink satin, trimmed with white lace; Miss McFarlane, white silk, with roses on shoulder; and her sister was a study in white satin, "with overdress of spotted chenille net, and bands of white satin bebe ribbon; Mrs Richmond, blaek silk; Miss Richmond, black silk, with black lace sleeves and decolletage; Miss Jean Richmond's dress was one of the most beautiful in the room, it was composed of beautiful hand embroidered net, worn over an under dress of mousseline-de-soie, over a foundation of rich glace, the whole effect being elegantly simple, and stylish, yet eminently suitable for a debutante ; Miss Eve Smith. black satin gown, with lace bolero, pink roses on corsage and in coiffure; Miss Moss Davis, a graceful gown, composed entirely of white lace with under-skirt of silk; Misses Kerr-Taylor (2), pale

green and gold; Misses Towle (2), white silk, with chiffon and flowers —one wore a blue chou; Mrs Ware wore a handsome mauve brocade, with ruched chiffon trimmings of a darker hue; Miss Ware, black costume, with guipure lace corsage, puffed sleeves; Miss D. Ware, white silk, with decolletage, softly draped with dainty little white flowers and their tender green foliage, the bodice was tucked and full and finished with a folded silk belt; Miss Waller, mauve glace, with overdress of mous-seline-de-soie and lace insertion; Miss Devereux, white silk, with heliotrope flowered design, flowers on corsage; Miss Cotter, blaek silk, with overdress of net, pink flowers on corsage and in coiffure; Miss —. Cotter, black silk, with overdress of net, blue flowers on corsage and in coiffure; Mrs Stuart Reid, ciel blue silk, with bands of white lace on skirt, the bodice was veiled in a Zouave; Miss Morrin, rose pink silk, the overskirt was very much betucked, the underskirt was one mass of chi-chi chiffon flounces, on shoulders were braces of flowers and the same in coiffure; Miss —. Morrin, white silk, draped with layers of silk gauze, and the same in coiffure; Miss Marks, canary silk, very much betucked and finished with chiffon; Mrs Henry Walker, white silk, with flowers on corsage; Miss Buller, white silk, with cluster of violets on decolletage, and gold belt round waist; Miss Nolan, black gown, ecru Zouave, yellow flowers on corsage; Miss Bennett, white silk, with red flowers on corsage and in coiffure; Miss Young, blue silk, veiled white lace; Mrs Bodie, blaek silk, pink flowers on corsage; Miss Buddle, rich white silk, with silver beads, blue flowers in coiffure; Miss Moss Davis, white mousseline-de-soie, blaek velvet bow in coiffure; Messrs McCosh Clark (2), Meredith, Reid, Horton, Cotter. Dargayille. McLaughlin, Shayle-George, McCormick, Hutchison, Hanna. Morrin (2), Unton, Roberton, Brodie, Stevenson (2), Bews. Myers. Clarke, Masefield. Gillies (2), Crombie, Isaacs, Carr. Blair, Ridings, Foster, Jackson, Black. Williamson, Walker. Fenton (2). Nolan (2), Carrick. Thompson, Buddle, Dawson (2). Witham. Leys. Wynvard, Nathan (2), Heather, Purehas, Buckland, Bloomfield, Elliot, Worsp, N. Taylor, Waddy, Dr. Maitland. MR CLIFFORD WALKER’S RECITALS. I am sure you and all our Auckland friends will be glad to hear that Mr Clifford Walker, who so delighted us with his dramatic and humorous recitations at the Auckland Club “At Home,” is to give two drawing-room entertainments in the Choral Hall on the 27th and 28th of this month. His evenings are, I hear from Wellington and Christchurch, most charming, and in the Cathedral City especially he aroused the greatest enthusiasm. A quiet, refined entertainment like this, with plenty of amusement, minus vulgarity, is a great treat, is it not? And I do like a man who can thrill one in the restrained, reserved, force style which Mr Walker commands. Mind you tell all our friends about

it, for I want Auckland to have a« good a record for cultured taste as Christchurch. Mrs Baume and Mrs Fred Baume g»»e A VERY LARGE AT HOME last Friday afternoon at “Berkely,” Symonds-strect, which is beautifully adapted for entertaining of this kind, being built in an American style—no doors downstairs, only curtained archways. The weather was simply superb, Sol shining out bravely, as if fully approving of the festivity. Our hostesses, in their usual cordial and warm manner, received their guests in the reception room, making everybody feel at home, from whence they wandered into another receptionroom, through the large entrance hall, up the wide staircase, to the ping-pong room, where a tournament amongst the guests was being carried on. There were chairs in every available spot, so that there was seating accommodaltion for everybody. A band was in attendance, and the excellent music was quite a feature of the function, the musicians being stationed in a charming alcove in the centre of the staircase, which really must have been built for- that purpose. The music floated softly through the air, making a charming accompaniment with the seductive symphonies to the clack of tongues. During the intervals of the music a

few words of conversation mate themselves heard, or a laugh rung out softly, and the pleasant hum of con* versatiou grew louder and more unrestrained as the hour drew towards evening, intermingled with many little trills of feminine laughter. Afternoon tea was served in the diningroom, the table being decorated in a remarkable but unique manner. It was a Chinese or Japanese table (I think it was the former), a terre cloth was spread of crinkley paper, from the chandelier to the corners of the table were suspended rows of small Chinese lanterns, interspersed with chop-sticks and Chinese ornaments; the centre-piece was a large Chinese lantern. Cliinese lanterns, also with loosely-arranged daffodils and snowdrops, adorned the table, surrounded with cakes, trifles, and sweets of every description. The reception rooms were gaily decorated wit h flowers, from which delicate perfumes floated on the air. During the afternoon Mrs l.awry and Miss' Bullens contributed songs. Mrs Baume, autumn brown satin, with tuekings ami black beads; Mrs Fred. Baume looked extremely well in a white silk, with jabots of ecru lace on skirt, and black velvet plastrons. a transparent yoke of lain, finished with black velvet, large shower bouquet, of violets on shoulder, black bow in coiffure; Mrs Sidney Nathan, white silk, the bodice was trimmed with gold thread and buttons, a .-how-

•r bouquet of violets at neck; Mies P. Gorrie, mauve grey costume, with velvet trimming; Mrs McCosh Clark, handsome black gown, black hat; Mrs Craig, black brocade, black bonnet; Mrs Brett wore a rich black cloth, finished with black silk bands, brow u bonnet with ecru lace; Mrs Burns, black and white figured foulard, him k bonnet; Mrs (Dr.) Bedford, black voile with killings, white cloth sac jacket, with black satin revers and cape, black hat swathed with chiffon; Mrs Harold Bagnall, navy coat and skirt, black hat with bow of shot red silk, and white coque. feathers; Mrs Cotter wore a very stylish black zibenne, piped with black velvet, the habit bodice being trimmed with black glace silk, and strapped with silk gimp, and tiny buttons, while and pink pompadour silk vest; black and white frieze, broad toque with white velvet, ivy leaves and lace; Miss Cotter, black cloth tailormade gown, cream guipure lace collar, white mohair hat caught up in front with heliotrope lilac flowers; Mrs. Cooper, magenta and white striped taffeta blouse, black silk hat with steel ornaments; Miss Cooper, black skirt, canary silk blouse, picture hat; Miss Cruickshank, Prussian blue frieze, strapped with black edged with gold, black velvet picture hat; Mrs. Duthie, grey check skirt, black velvet bodice, pale blue velvet hat with white lace drapings; Mrs. Edward Lewis, black cloth tailormade gown, black bonnet; Mrs. W. Gorrie, black brocade, black velvet bonnet; Mrs. Armitage, grey plaid skirt, brown velvet blouse, brown hat with pink flowers; Mrs. C. Buddle, fawn costume; Miss Northcroft, dark skirt, fawn jacket, black hat with plumes; Mrs. Workman, black silk gown, black hat relieved with white; Mrs. Bullen, rich black costume, black plush jacket, black bonnet; Miss Gorrie, black tailor-made gown, with cream lace applique on revers, Cuban straw hat trimmed with black and wreath of scarlet geraniums; Mrs. Kingswell, black costume with Maltese lace collar, red let in at the shoulder, black hat with violets; Mrs. Jones, black cloth gown with cream vest and lace revers, black hat swathed with tulle; Mrs. Kempthorne, black brocade with w'hite satin pouched vest, black bonnet with white flowers; Miss Kempthorne, black tailor-made gown, black hat with feathers; Mrs. McDonald, dark green tailor-made gown, black bonnet; Miss McDonald, green and white striped blouse, black satin skirt, black hat; Mrs. Hart, mourning costume; Mrs. Peacock, golden brown satin with iridescent passementerie, brown bonnet with roses of pastel shade; Mrs. Boult, black gown cape and bonnet; Miss Boult, fawn gown, ecru lace collarette, hat trimmed with red; Mrs. Rathbone, black brocade, white let at V-shaped back and front of bodice, black hat with ostrich plumes; Mrs. R. Lusk, black gown with revers of ecru lace, pink felt hat; Miss Binney, black cloth with glace silk strapping, large crowned burnt straw hat with autumn leaves; Mrs. Clifton, dark green costume, white collarette; Miss Haywood (Wellington), grey cloth costume, toque composed of violets; Mrs. Thomas Buddle, black satin, white silk vest, and cream lace applique round bolero, black toque with violets; Miss Conolly, black gown; Mrs. Goldie, dark green tailor-made gown, beaver hat; Mrs. Edmiston, a handsome Sydney costume of lavender frieze with satin vest, hat swathed with primroses of the same shade; Mrs. Holland, black silk, lace dolman, toque with pink flowers; Miss Shepherd, grey costume with passementerie black toque with large pink rose; Mrs. Gillies, black silk dress, black bonnet with mauve silk; Mrs. J. Dargaville, handsome black striped silk grenadine over blaek satin,

white chiffon front, black toque swathed with white and black spotted velvet and blaek plumes.; Mrs. Moss-Davis, brown cloth gown, toque with flowers; Miss Moss-Davis, stylish electrique blue zibeline, white satin and lace revers on Russian blouse, black picture hat, and her sister wore white zebeline, made in a similar style, black picture hat; Mrs. Frater, black skirt, black bodice with tuekings, violet! velvet toque with posies of violets; Mrs. Foster, black cloth skirt and coat,

pink silk vest, black hat; Miss Leya, gobelin blue frieze; Mrs. Keesing, fawn grass lawn with wide cream guipure lace festooned on skirt, black hat, Mrs. Barry Keesing looked distinguee in a blaek gown, white lace revers, white hat with pink roses; Mi's. 1 homus Keesing looked exceedingly pretty in a cream serge gown, black picture hat; Mrs. C. Phillips, black grenadine gown; Mrs. Keesing, blaek silk, black dolman, black bonnet; Miss Keesing, tailor-made gown, with ecru revers, black toque; Mrs w’ B. Colbeck, black gown, made with silk bolero, white vest, blaek hat; Mrs. Lawry, black satin costume, black hat; Mrs. Moritzon, fawn jacket and skirt, cream hat with violets; Mrs. Colegrove, violet costume, hat with violet trimming; Miss Colegrove, dark skirt, fawn jacket, black hat; . and her sister wore dark green coat and skirt, hat with touch of ciel blue; Mrs. Thomas Morrin, black cloth gown, with braiding, hat with shot silk; Miss Morrin, dark green costume, blaek hat; Mrs. S. Morrin, blaek brocade, cream lace, straw toque with violets; Mrs. C. C. McMillan, black satin, grey bonnet, with grey plumes, grey ostrich feather boa, with scarlet ribbon: Mrs. Major, black cloth, trimmed with silk made with pouched vest; Mrs. L. D. Nathan, tobacco brown frieze costume, trimmed with velvet of the same shade, toque with lace; Mrs. Arthur Nathan, brick-red zibeline, with braiding of the same hue, cream lace collar, black Tudor hat; Mrs. C. M. Nelson, black coat and skirt, cream lace collar, black toque, with blue choux; Mrs. Payton, slate grey gown, white Vest, black and white toque; Mrs. W. Rainger, Prussian blue frock, with light blue chine silk vest, Maltese lace collar, black satin hat. with chenille round broad crown: Mrs. Ranken Reid, black costume, white vest, black hat with ostrich plume; Mrs. John Stewart, fawn and brown costume, fawn velvet toque, with touches of pink and white; Mrs. Tilly, black costume, brown fur cape, blaek hat; Mrs. J. A. Tole, black satin skirt, mauve satin blouse, toque with violets; Mrs. Ralph, absinthe green silk, with overdress of black net. white silk pouched vest, black toque; Mrs. Reade, brown dress, pink vest, blaek hat; Mrs. Arch. Tayler, grey flowered French muslin, hat with violets; Miss Ballens, white frieze, black hat; Mrs. Upton, black matalasse, black and white bonnet, with brown fur; Mrs. Henry Walker, dark green Eton jacket and skirt, with gold buttons, black hat; Mrs. Kerr-Taylor, violet gown, fur cape, violet hat; Misses Kerr-Taylor, navy, with white braid, hats en suite: Mrs. Keogh, black cloth gown, toque with violets; Mrs. Lyons, violet three-tier flounced skirt, Russian blouse, grey felt toque, with bird; Mrs. Hutchison, black cloth, with silk trimming, black toque with violets; Mrs. Isaacs, black silk, Miss Isaacs. green skirt, black velvet bolero with fur. white lace collarette, black hat; Mrs. Goodhue, black; Mrs. Humphrey Haines, mode grey silk, trimmed with Coronation red, grey felt hat en suite; Mrs. Lennox, black costume, black bonnet, with red; Miss Lennox, slate grey costume, white vest, cream hat, swathed with slate grey silk: Miss Brigham, black gown, black hat; Miss Gray, navy gown, red hat; Mrs. Gray, black; Miss Ziman, navy coat and skirt, black bat; Mrs. Sholto Douglas, black; Miss Douglas, periwinkle blue gown; Miss Alison, crushed strawberry gown; Miss Reid was similarly gowned in crushed strawberry frieze: Mrs. Dufaur, black gown, black hat; Miss Lucas, slate grey gewn, white vest, slate grey toque; Mrs Lindsay, black satin skirt, white satin blouse, hat with Coronation red velvet; Mrs. Robert Dargaville. fawn Ince cloth, strapped with brown silk, point lace vest, black King Hal hat, with touches of turquoise blue: Mrs. Lionel Benjamin, black silk: Miss Marks, navy serge; Mrs. Salmon, black silk; Mrs. Talbot Tubbs, sage green costume, made with Russian blouse, felt hat swathed with Coronation red; Mrs. Turten, black dress, with fawn spots, trimmed with bands of fawn lace, black bolero, black hat; Mrs. Egerton. green gown.

THE PA KU RANG A HOUNDS niet last Saturday at Ihumata. The day was bitterly cold, with light showers falling, and altogether a less promising day for the chase could not well have been conceived; but what signified the cold and the rain if hounds ram? The hounds were thrown off in the gorse on the scoria laud near the Maori settlement, when deep, stern, joyous and confident notes were heard, mingled in a grand chorus of sound, which is dearer to the hearts of the enthusiastic followers than the finest Beethoven sonata, whose feelings underwent a sudden revulsion, and they scoffed at the sensation of physical discomfort experienced only a few minutes before. All was eagerness and activity, as a strong hare was viewed making straight for Mrs Eilett’s. Helter-skel-ter went every* rider, for the obstacles were only stone walls, of an average height, when, hey, presto! the field was suddenly thinned of its numbers. Thisi strange effect was due to a very simple cause, namely, a quiet, inoffensive-looking little wire fence beneath a wide spread pinetree, but to the charging squadrons it loomed a horrid monster. Mrs Bloomfield's steed, M’Liss, who was following the huntsman, jumped too big, the sight being rather unpleasant to witness, though perhaps trifling in result, the boughs cracked and groaned, apd in revenge marred the rider's beauty a little. Away the bounds sped, through Mrs Ellett's and Mr RenneH’s. when there was a check. The obstacles to be negotiated had been varied, and the run fast. Mr Pittar’s Tuine had to be sent home, for during this run he cut a vein in the foreleg, and was indeed a gory sight. There were two or three riderless horses galloping about. Miss Gorrie’s Jimmy was lame, and she went home. The hounds •were next east in Mrs Ellett’s swamp, when see-oh was re-echoed throughout the field, as pussie was seen stealing along towards Mr Rennell’s. A combination of gorse hedges and large ditches, with wire running through the slip-panels, etc., to be negotiated. Away through Mr Kirkbright’s down to the beach; here a. very awkward wire fence had to be taken at a stander, bringing one gentleman a regular howler, as his

foot caught in the wire, while negotiating this obstacle. Next Mr B. Myers, on Muriwai, settled down to take this obstacle, which his Bucephalus kindly and with great forethought carried-aiway, for which the rearguard were very grateful; but, alas! sad to relate, the result was disastrous—a gash on the near shoulder. Up to this point the hounds had held .on with few signs of wavering, and apparently as fresh as ever, but after crossing another field they threw up their heads, which gave the steaming steeds a little breathing space. The huntsman made an unsuccessful cast, and more than ten minutes had been cut to waste, when the hounds suddenly took it up on the beach and went away with vigour but little abated. Four ladles and half-a-dozen gentlemen were seen m the train, the rest, more cautious, went via the paddocks. Now and then a warning was thrown behind to those in single file to be careful, as the beach was tricky in some places. Away, for half-a-mile along this beach, the fun was fast and furious, when the hounds suddenly swung to the left; up the steep, perpendicular cliff they went. The followers looked a little blank, but as it is always the huntsman’s unpleasant office on such occasions to lead the way, since he must be with the hounds, up the cliff he went, followed by the faithful few, when suddenly his mot d’ordre was “turn baek," when a scream and a burst of laughter was heard at what seemed an impossible order; but it was a timely warning, for just before him, hidden in gorse, was a deep pit, but, fortunately, at length, swinging a little more to the left, he avoided this cavern and reached the high ground in safety. What a romantic catastrophe was thus averted, supposing all had followed single file and dropped into this cavern, huntsman, whipperin, four ladies and half-a-dozen gentlemen, and a dozen steeds, ail gone in a second, nobody knows where. Once more on terra firma, in Mr Montgomery’s property, puss led them back to Mr RennelFs, when there was a kill in the hedge, of what I do not know; some suggested a ca.t. Anotherjiare was started. A similar run was indulged jn, the hounds again taking to the beach, but the riders did nlot relish the beach again, so followed through the pad-

docks. Pussie then took a bee-line for Mr. Wallace’s, across the Ihu-mata-road.- Here a combination obstacle of post-and-rail, hedge, and large ditch brought Mrs Moody and Mike a fall, Miss Rae and itohutukawa, and also Mr Schnackenberg and Dandy Dick measured their length. Mrs W. Bloomfield and M’Liss negotiated this obstacle a little lower than the rest. M’Liss made a mistake by taking off a little too near, tout happily the result was only a broken rail. Mr Tonks and Tip did something similar. A wire with netting, an ugly jump, nearly settled the equanimity of Skipper and Mr Adams. Mrs Ellett, with her usual hospitality, kindly provided afternoon refreshments for the followers. Amongst those present were Mrs Moody, Mrs Crowe, Mrs Bloomfield, Mrs Kelly, Misses Glorrie (2), Stribley. Buckland (3), Abbott, Rae, Messrs McLaughlin (2), Kinloch (2), Crowe, Carminer, Dawson, Lewis, Tonks, Bloomfield, Nlel, Creagh, Schnackenberg, Nolan (2). Adams, Moody, Ellett (2), Elliot, Ralph, Myers, Pitta-r, Wallace, Cotter, Board, McCosh Clark (2), Purchas, Bell, Dalton.

PHYLLIS BROUN.